The small Island of St. Kilda off the west coast of Scotland has inspired numerous people throughout the centuries to explore, investigate and describe its nature, history, inhabitants and remoteness.
Martin Martin was the first to give a written first-hand account of his travels to the western Hebrides, when he embarked in May of 1697. Since then many others have followed in his footsteps as recently as 2008, when Kate Humble, Dan Snow and Steve Backshall went to the island for a BBC documentary.
My goal is to show that Martin Martin had a huge influence on those who thematized this remarkable island after him, even transcending genre, by analysing the BBC documentary Britain's Lost World and the feature film The Edge of the World to discover language and images used by Martin Martin. The question to be answered is: Has the language and imagery of Martin Martin persevered throughout the centuries and transcended genres?
In the first chapter I will analyse the different depictions of St. Kilda, its wildlife and inhabitants in the three different texts. The second chapter will compare all of them, show similarities and point out the exact intersections.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. Depiction of St. Kilda
1. Martin Martin describes the St. Kildans
2. Martin Martin describes the island and its wildlife
3. Michael Powell's filming of St. Kilda
4. British Broadcasting Corporation documentary about St. Kilda
II. Comparing the three texts
Conclusion
Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to demonstrate the lasting influence of Martin Martin’s 1716 travel narrative on the portrayal of St. Kilda in later media, specifically across different genres such as feature film and documentary. By analyzing the imagery and language used in the BBC documentary "Britain's Lost World" and Michael Powell's feature film "The Edge of the World," the study explores whether Martin Martin’s foundational descriptions have successfully transcended centuries and genres to shape modern perceptions of the island.
- The role of Martin Martin as the first to provide a comprehensive, first-hand account of St. Kilda.
- Comparative analysis of depictions regarding the island's wildlife, inhabitants, and natural features.
- The influence of travel narrative tropes on modern filmic and documentary representations.
- Cultural themes, such as the "Mistress Stone" tradition, and their recurrence in different media.
- The evolution of gender roles in the portrayal of St. Kildan society.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Martin Martin describes the St. Kildans
Martin Martin's travel narrative Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (1716) appropriately starts with his departure from the Isle Esay in Harries. His description of the voyage is intermitted by observations about animal behaviour or St. Kildan methods, when he explains how the St. Kildans measure their course by observing the flight patterns of sea-birds or how the Solan Geese behave during nesting. He proves very observant as he goes to great detail in describing the theft of grass by Solan Geese and the repercussion by the bereft bird (cf. Martin 1716, 27 - 30).
He left Scotland on Wednesday 29th May in 1967 and arrived three days later on Saturday 1st June, greeted by the St. Kildans and admired for making the voyage despite the stormy weather. This is an indication of the importance the islanders placed on competence and skill. Martin Martin observes how securely the St. Kildans scale the cliffs, without fear of losing their footing, even keeping up with their boat and "they outrun our [Martin Martin's] Boat to the Town, from thence they brought the Steward and all the Inhabitants of both Sexes to receive us" (ib., 9). It is notable that he feels the need to mention that both males and females come out to greet them. This can be seen as an indication of relaxed gender relations, which we can in turn associate with a pre peccatum original state of blissful ignorance or Romanticism's tendency to "[invest] wildness with beauty and merit of its own" (Chapman 1992, 128).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the foundation for the study by introducing the historical significance of St. Kilda and outlining the goal to analyze Martin Martin's enduring influence on modern media depictions.
I. Depiction of St. Kilda: This chapter analyzes how Martin Martin’s original 1716 narrative, Michael Powell’s 1937 feature film, and the 2008 BBC documentary approach the description of the island’s inhabitants, wildlife, and natural features.
1. Martin Martin describes the St. Kildans: Examines Martin Martin’s meticulous observation of the St. Kildan people, their customs, gender roles, and social structure as portrayed in his travel narrative.
2. Martin Martin describes the island and its wildlife: Focuses on the scientific precision with which Martin Martin documents the island’s geography, climatic conditions, and the behavior of local birdlife.
3. Michael Powell's filming of St. Kilda: Analyzes the cinematic choices in "The Edge of the World," noting how the film attempts to capture the essence of St. Kilda despite being filmed on the island of Foula.
4. British Broadcasting Corporation documentary about St. Kilda: Investigates the interactive, "infotainment"-style approach of the 2008 BBC documentary and its attempt to bridge the gap between historical fact and modern discovery.
II. Comparing the three texts: Synthesizes the findings from the three media sources to highlight commonalities, specifically regarding attention to detail, the imagery of the journey, and the shared focus on cultural specificities like the Mistress Stone.
Conclusion: Confirms that Martin Martin's influence has indeed transcended genre, as the meticulous approach he pioneered remains visible in the visual language and thematic focus of later media works.
Bibliography: Lists the academic and media sources utilized throughout the analysis.
Keywords
St. Kilda, Martin Martin, Travel Narrative, Documentary, Feature Film, Media Analysis, Cultural Representation, The Edge of the World, Britain's Lost World, Scottish Hebrides, Hirta, Mistress Stone, Romanticism, Island Life, Film Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic work?
This work examines the influence of Martin Martin’s 1716 travel narrative on the portrayal of St. Kilda in later, modern media representations.
Which specific media works are analyzed alongside the travel narrative?
The study analyzes the 1937 feature film "The Edge of the World" by Michael Powell and the 2008 BBC documentary "Britain's Lost World."
What is the primary research question?
The research seeks to determine whether the language and imagery established by Martin Martin have persevered throughout the centuries and successfully transcended different media genres.
What scientific method is employed in this research?
The author utilizes a comparative media analysis, focusing on textual and visual descriptions to identify similarities, thematic bridges, and intersections between the three source materials.
What content is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section details the specific depictions of St. Kildan life, the geography of the island, and the filming/documenting techniques used to represent the island’s unique environment and culture.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The core keywords include St. Kilda, Martin Martin, cultural representation, travel narrative, film studies, and media influence.
Why is the "Mistress Stone" episode significant to this research?
The Mistress Stone is highlighted because it acts as a cultural touchstone that appears across all three studied genres, demonstrating a direct thematic link back to Martin Martin's original observations.
How do the modern media depictions differ from Martin Martin’s original account regarding their portrayal of gender?
While Martin Martin observed a degree of equality between the sexes on the island, the 1930s feature film "The Edge of the World" often reflects the gender inequalities of its own time, relegating female characters to subordinate roles.
Does the author conclude that Martin Martin’s influence is still present?
Yes, the author concludes that Martin Martin's meticulous approach and attention to detail have created a legacy that continues to shape how St. Kilda is presented in contemporary documentaries and feature films.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Markus Jack Dijkgraaf (Autor:in), 2012, Martin Martin's Influence on Modern Media About St. Kilda, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/307391
